The Prince of Wales said he was “proud” to be a member of the Centrepoint family as he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his first patronage.
William marked two decades as the youth homelessness charity’s figurehead by adding the finishing touches to a mural in the organisation’s new offices, and praised the charity’s staff for how much they had “achieved” in 20 years.
Centrepoint’s chief executive Seyi Obakin said that, when asked to take on a formal role, William’s response was he did not want to be an “ornamental patron” and since then has been “true to his word in every sense”.
The future King has pushed the charity to think what more it can do and was instrumental in helping it set up its vital helpline, Mr Obakin added.
William began his visit to the charity’s headquarters in Whitechapel, east London by cutting a three-tiered chocolate sponge cake made by celebrity baker Juliet Sear to laughs and applause by staff.
He told them: “Many of you have been here many more years than that and it’s an amazing moment to think, in 20 years, how much has changed and been achieved by all of you.
“The Centrepoint family is one I am very proud to be a part of and I can’t thank you all (enough) for all the hard work, every day, you give to help other people.
“It’s fantastic, and that massive cake signifies the love and the generosity and the time you all give to helping other people, so make sure you take a piece.”
It was William’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales who first introduced the prince, when a young schoolboy, to the issue of rough sleepers, taking him on private visits to homeless centres.
Diana became Centrepoint’s patron in 1992 and the prince followed in her footsteps in 2005 when he made the charity the first patronage of his public life, and at the time spent a few days working as a volunteer at the charity.
